Tell Us Once Service

When it comes to conducting the administrative tasks following the loss of a loved one, the whole process can be overwhelming. The UK Government’s ‘Tell Us Once’ service aims to ease this burden by allowing you to inform multiple government departments of a death through a simple online portal.

Tell Us Once Quick Guide

To use the Tell Us Once Service, follow these steps:

• Register the death with your local registrar
• Get a unique reference number
• Use to tell us once service online or by phone
• Provide details about the deceased
• Government departments will be notified automatically
• Use the service within 28 days of getting your unique reference number

What is The Tell Us Once Service?

‘Tell Us Once’ is a free service provided by local governments that allows you to report a death to most government organisations simultaneously. This means you don’t have to contact each department individually, saving time and reducing stress during a difficult period. You can find information on the Tell Us Once service for Wirral Council here. 

Who Can Use This Service?

Anyone can use the ‘Tell Us Once’ if the person who died was living in England, Scotland, or Wales. The service is not available in Northern Ireland. If the death occurred abroad, you could still use the service if the deceased was usually resident in the UK.

What You’ll Need Before Starting

Before using this service, it helps if you gather the following information beforehand, as having this information handy will make the process quicker and easier.

• full name, their date of birth and address
• national insurance number
• passport number
• driving licence number
• details about any benefits or government services they were receiving
• name and contact details of the next of kin

How Does Tell Us Once Work?

1. Register the Death: When you register the death with the registrar, they will inform you about the ‘Tell Us Once’ service. If you can’t register a death due to an ongoing inquest, you can still ask the registrar for a unique reference number by getting an interim death certificate from the coroner in charge of the inquest.
2. Receive a Unique Reference Number: The registrar will provide you with a unique reference number to access the service online or by phone.
3. Provide Necessary Information: Using the reference number, you can log in to the service and provide details about the deceased, such as:
   • Name, date of birth, and address
   • National Insurance number
   • Driving licence number
   • Passport number
   • Details of any benefits or services they were receiving
4. Inform Relevant Departments: Once submitted, the service will notify various government departments on your behalf.

While you don’t have to create an account, it’s recommended as you can track your progress and add information, like a death certificate, at a later date.

Which Organisations Are Notified?

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service will attempt to inform several departments, including:

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): To cancel benefits like State Pension or Universal Credit.
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): To deal with personal tax matters and estate management.
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): To cancel driving licences and vehicle tax.
• HM Passport Office: To cancel passports to mitigate the risk of fraud.
• Local Council Services: Including electoral register, council tax, and housing benefits.

You should be aware that some organisations, such as banks, utility companies, and private pension providers, won’t fall under this service. You will need to contact financial institutions to notify them when someone dies separately.

Who You Still Need To Contact

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service is helpful but it does not cover everywhere. You will still need to contact:

• Banks
• Building societies
• Utilities (gas, electricity, water, internet)
• Any insurance companies
• private pension providers
• Subscription services

You may find it helpful to use services such as the Death Notification Service to inform multiple financial institutions at once.

What Happens After Using the Tell Us Once Service?

After using the Tell Us Once service, any and all relevant government departments will be told. It’s possible for departments to contact you after if they need more details, but don’t worry, this is normal.

Benefits and payments will be reviewed, and where appropriate, then stopped. You might also receive confirmation or reference details for you to keep. The Tell Us Once service isn’t instant, and it might take a few weeks or so for all organisations to process the information, but this depends on the circumstances.

Benefits of Using the ‘Tell Us Once’ Service

• Saves time by notifying multiple departments in one go.
• Reduces stress by simplifying the process of notification during the bereavement period.
• Helps prevent fraud by ensuring that official records are updated efficiently.
• Makes the process simple and accessible through one portal.

We Are Here to Help

We understand that dealing with administrative tasks after losing a loved one can feel overwhelming. Taking things step by step and using services like Tell Us Once can help make the process more manageable during a difficult time.

For more information on the ‘Tell Us Once’ service, please visit the official GOV.UK page.

This information is based on guidance from official UK Government sources and is intended as a general guide.